Time to start thinking about decorating for Christmas

Now that Thanksgiving is almost upon us, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas. I do decorate but I don’t go all out as I’ve seen some people do. I don’t have the storage capacity for a tree for every room, for one thing, and for another, I’m pretty sure I would be so exhausted by the time I finished that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy Christmas.

CHRISTMAS THEMES

For my Christmas decorating, I have three themes that I rotate from year to year. With the different themes, I can use many of the same decorations. My themes are: Victorian, gingerbread, and snowmen. I do have specific ornaments for each of these themes but I also have generic ornaments which I can use for all three and which act as filler on the tree.

Having three themes to rotate keeps me from becoming bored with my decorations. I also make changes to whatever I do every time I reuse a theme. Sometimes I make additions to what I have and sometimes I move things around or have an idea about a new way to display my decorations.

Decorating the mantel is always a challenge for me. I really don’t know why because that ought to be the easiest. Last year was the year of my snowmen theme. Walking around a store one day, I spotted some snowflake wrapping paper and the idea popped into my head of using it as a backdrop for my mantel display. I then bought large snowflakes to spill over onto the wall to give a 3-D effect. This is the result:





USING THE THEME OUTSIDE

Not only do I use the current theme throughout my house – for example, I add a themed centerpiece to my dining table and used themed kitchen towels – but I also carry the theme to my outdoor decorations. I add a themed wreath to my front door and decorate two window boxes according to the theme. I have outdoor lighting and displays that also match the theme.

IDEAS FOR THEMES USING VINTAGE ITEMS

So, I’ve come up with a few ideas for themes using vintage items from Etsy sellers.

'Vintage Christmas themes' by TouchingThePast

I Love Santa: Vintage Toy Bl... LittleKittenVi... $20.00	Tin Toy Teacups - INSTANT CO... sushipotparts $48.00	Vintage Wooden Toy Soldier O... avocadoharvest $9.00	VINTAGE Collection of HO Sca... nuretro $10.95
Vintage Blue Feather Hat samjams3 $18.00	Vintage collection of scarve... TheVintageLure $28.50	Vintage Jewelry, Vintage Sup... kimkdep $10.00	20s Blue Silk Velvet Opera C... MorningGloriou... $125.00
Vintage Red Enamel Kitchen S... SwedishCountry $16.50	Holiday Baking Vintage Metal... blackscottietr... $12.00	Vintage Kitchen Collection Sharedvisions5... $25.00	Vintage Russian Lacquered Kh... theloosegoose $25.00
Instant COLLECTION of GARDEN... sushipotparts $48.00	Vintage Collection of Fishi... MontanaKnitWit $70.00	Large Blue Vintage Granite ... cabininthehear... $29.00	7 Vintage Clay Terra-cotta f... DOUBLEDOORANTI... $12.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

I love the idea of using children’s toys as Christmas decorations, and the first row in the treasury is an example of items I would use. I think the wooden blocks spelling out “I Love Santa” would look adorable on the mantel and since someone has put it together for me, my mantel won’t be the usual challenge. I would use the wooden soldiers and the tin cups as ornaments on the tree. And the train would look so cute on the floor encircling the tree.

The second row of items is very non-traditional for Christmas. They’re for what I call a Fashionista tree. The first item is a feather hat which I would use as the tree topper. The scarves could be tied together and draped around the tree as a garland. I would use the brooches as ornaments on the tree. The beautiful blue velvet cape could be used as the tree skirt.

I know a lot of people collect vintage kitchen items, so the third row includes items that could be used for decorations. I would place my tree in the red enamelware bowl. Granted, it would not be a large tree but I know some people only use smaller trees anyway because of lack of space. The cookie cutters and the green-handled items could be used as ornaments. I love the Russian lacquered spoons and would use them in my mantel display. I think they would look so festive hanging from the mantel.

The last theme is for an outside tree. The faucet knobs and the fishing lures would be the ornaments. The enamel bucket would be the base of my tree. And I love the little clay pots for use as outdoors candle luminaries to line a path or to surround my tree.
I’d love to hear any ideas you have about how to use vintage items for Christmas decorations, non-traditional or otherwise, and to see your pictures too.